Global Warming News

Feb. 19, 2008 (Xinhua News Agency delivered by Newstex) — California to hold statewide meetings on combating global warming
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) — Hundreds of city and county officials in California were invited to attend a series of workshops focused on combating global warming by reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions, officials said Monday.
More than 500 letters went out to mayors, planning directors and county supervisors in all 58 California counties and nearly 200 cities, inviting them to take part in discussions on climate change and the state’s Environmental Quality Act, according to the office of state Attorney General Jerry Brown.
The act requires local agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from projects with significant impact, including those dealing with regional transportation and development.
“These workshops launch the first statewide movement to reduce the negative impact of local planning decisions on global climate,”said Brown.
The workshops, to be held from March to May in Oakland, Sacramento, Visalia, Los Angeles and Monterey, will address such issues as how the state should analyze the global warming-related impacts of development, what mitigation strategies local governments should employ to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, and how cities and counties can undertake the required environmental analysis efficiently.
“California must adopt the necessary changes that will encourage economic growth while reducing greenhouse gases,” Brown said. “This difficult transition from our current escalating dependence on fossil fuels demands that cities and counties encourage maximum building efficiency and innovative land-use.”© 2008 Xinhua News Agency 2008. Distributed by Newstex. All rights reserved.